Subject: 3.5m shutdown extension

From: elt@astro.Princeton.EDU

Submitted: Thu, 2 Jan 1997 17:13:00 -0500 (EST)

Message number: 112 (previous: 111, next: 113 up: Index)

During re-installation of the 3.5m secondary, following its re-aluminization,
multiple broken components in its support mechanism were uncovered.  Delays
in delivery of replacement parts, due in part to the holiday season, have
delayed final re-assembly of the telescope.  Delivery of the parts to APO
is expected tomorrow (Friday 1/3).  Once re-assembled, significant time
on the sky is required to align optics, generate a pointing model, calibrate
the focus, determine instrument blocks and so forth before the telescope
will be ready for science operations.

Unfortuantely, it is therefore necessary to further extend the present
shutdown.  Science programs on the nights of 1/4 (NM03 Ledl, JH05 Spaa)
and 1/5 (JH02 Chan, UC10 Kron, PU01 Turn) are therefore canceled.  In
addition, the B block (second half night) programs on 1/6 (UC10 Kron)
and 1/7 (UC10 Kron, PU01 Turn) are also canceled.  The JH02 Chan program
scheduled for A block (first half) on 1/6 and 1/7 is not canceled at this
time but may have to be if there are further delays or if forecast bad
weather on the weekend prevents the aquisition of the necessary pointing
model data, etc.

This message is being sent to all schedulers and all directly affected
PIs and observers as well as being posted to apo35-general.  Due to the
short notice, please do your best to pass the word to those affected.
Users committee members are also included for good measure.

Ed Turner
APO APO APO APO APO  Apache Point Observatory 3.5m  APO APO APO
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